Battery holding frame, in particular for an electrically driven sweeping machine

ABSTRACT

A battery holding frame is provided, in particular for an electrically driven sweeping machine, comprising one lower supporting face ( 4 ) for the battery ( 10 ), and lateral faces ( 5 ) to contain the same battery ( 10 ), which include a mobile lateral face ( 5   a ) rotatable between a first closed position across the first lower supporting face ( 4 ) and a second operating position substantially aligned with and adjacent to the lower supporting face ( 4 ) where sliding elements ( 7 ) are provided on the mobile lateral face ( 5   a ), suitable for allowing to slide the battery ( 10 ) whenever the mobile lateral face ( 5   a ) is in an operating position.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

[0001] The invention relates to a battery holding frame, in particularfor an electrically driven sweeping machine and comprising at least onelower supporting face for said battery, and laterally containing faces.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PRIOR ART

[0002] As known, industrial vehicles suitable for operating in closedspaces, such as in particular sweeping machines operating inside sheds,sales areas, supermarkets etc., are in many cases electrically drivenand actuated, in order to avoid the environmental and sound pollutiongenerated by internal combustion motors.

[0003] The electrical motors of these machines are supplied by batteriesor electrical feeders of very heavy weight and very large size, andthese are rechargeable to avoid their constant repurchase and also theirconstant removal for replacement. Under certain circumstances, however,a battery removal is necessary, for instance for a final replacementwhen exhausted and no longer rechargeable, or whenever, because of theextent of the surfaces to be swept or of the lack of available time, twoor more batteries are used in succession, to be subsequently rechargedand reused.

[0004] The removal of the batteries, even if occasionally, turns out tobe cumbersome and fatiguing for the servicing personnel, as it commonlyoccurs by a topside extraction, after disassembling the machine'sappropriate protective parts. Moreover, due to the batteries'considerable weight, their extraction can be performed only by usingadequate equipment.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0005] In this situation, the general aim of this invention is to createa battery holding frame or electrical feeder, in particular for anelectrically driven sweeping machine, suitable for substantiallyovercoming the mentioned drawbacks.

[0006] Within the scope of this general aim, an important aim of thisinvention is to make available a frame suitable for substantiallyreducing the effort needed for extracting and repositioning thebatteries in said vehicles.

[0007] Another important aim of the invention is to make available aframe which is simple to use and suitable for substantially reducing thetime periods required for extracting and repositioning the batteries inquestion.

[0008] A further aim is to make available a frame of a simpleconstruction, suitable for being mounted on sweeping machines of a newconstruction, and also such as to be suitable for being replaced onframes installed on already operating machines. The specified aims areachieved by a battery holding frame, in particular for an electricallydriven sweeping machine comprising at least one lower supporting facefor said battery and lateral containing faces; said lateral containingfaces comprising at least one mobile lateral face revolving between afirst closed position across said lower supporting face and a secondoperating position substantially aligned with and adjacent to said lowersupporting face; and sliding elements being provided at least on saidmobile lateral face, suitable for allowing to slide said batterywhenever said mobile lateral face is in said operating position.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0009] The description of a preferred embodiment of the invention is nowgiven by way of example with reference to the attached drawings, inwhich:

[0010]FIG. 1 shows the structure of the frame as a whole and inperspective, in an open position; and

[0011]FIG. 2 shows a detailed and again perspective view of a part ofthe frame shown in the previous figure.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

[0012] With reference to mentioned figures, the frame is indicated as awhole by the number 1 and provided to house a battery 10, in particularon an electrically driven sweeping machine 2.

[0013] The frame 1 is substantially shaped as a parallelepiped andcomprises an upper covering face or wall 3, a lower supporting face orwall 4 and lateral faces or walls 5.

[0014] In particular, a mobile lateral face or wall 5 a is provided withrespect to the supporting face 4, on which it pivots by hinges or pins6. Sliding elements 7 are present on the lower face 4 and on the mobilelateral face 5 a.

[0015] Manually removable blocking elements 8 are also provided.

[0016] The blocking elements 8 are composed, for example, of a anelement defined by a screw 8 a and an element defined by a nut screw 8b, which can be engaged with each other by simple manual screwing.

[0017] It is then noted that whenever the mobile face 5 a is in an openposition, a sliding plane 9 forms, which is composed of the lower face 4and of the same mobile lateral face 5 a.

[0018] In this preferred embodiment, the sliding elements 7 consist of amultiple number of rotating rollers 7 a, which can however also beroller bearings or other elements. The rollers 7 a are advantageouslyplaced in parallel to each other, so that those supported on the lowerface 4 and those on the mobile lateral face 5 a are in a mutuallyparallel position.

[0019] A battery 10 of even great size and substantial weight cantherefore be easily slid over the extraction plane 9 without equipment.

[0020] More in detail, the lower and lateral faces 4, 5 of the frame 1are defined by metallic profiles. In practice, the frame is a simple andeconomical trestle equipped with rotating rollers 7 a to support thebattery 10.

[0021] Moreover, at least the metallic profiles of the mobile lateralface 5 a and of the lower supporting face 4 are exclusively placed onthe rims of the faces themselves, and are shaped as squares, each havinga shoulder flap 11 a and a bottom flap 11 b.

[0022] The shoulder flap 11 a acts as a lateral rim and the bottom flap11 b acts as a base inside the said faces, so as to define, as a whole,some pan-like or hollowed seats opposite which the rotating rollers 7 aare emplaced.

[0023] The usage of the frame 1 described above is as follows.

[0024] Whenever the mobile lateral face 5 a is perpendicular to thelower face 4 and upper face 3, the structure presents a first closedposition.

[0025] The mobile lateral face 5 a in the closed position abuts againstthe upper face 3 and prevents an eventual sliding of the battery 10,which is placed on the face 4. The blocking elements 8 are provided toguarantee the maintenance of the closed position.

[0026] On the other hand, whenever the lateral face 5 a is in a positionparallel and adjacent to the lower face 4, the structure presents asecond operating or open position.

[0027] In the open position, the mobile lateral face 5 a issubstantially aligned with and abuts the lower face 4, so as to formsaid sliding or extracting plane 9.

[0028] The transition from the first closed position to the second openposition is substantially a turning over of the mobile lateral face 5 aand this turnover is made possible by the hinges or pins 6, once theblocking elements 8 are removed.

[0029] The hinges 6 in fact rotatingly constrain the lower face 4 on themobile lateral face 5 a, thus allowing the latter to be moved from thefirst to the second position.

[0030] When the frame 1 is in an open position, the battery 10 may beslid, by simple manual action on the sliding elements 7, toward theoutside of the frame.

[0031] In this manner the battery 10 is placed in a comfortable positionto be loaded on a cart, or to be slid on a transport trolley, or forother operations.

[0032] The invention achieves important advantages.

[0033] The removal, for instance for replacing, of a battery 10 of anelectrically driven sweeping machine 2 does not require detaching thecovering face 3, nor uplifting the battery itself. It suffices to reachfor the mobile lateral face 5 a to turn it over by simple manual actionsand then to manually slide the battery 10, on the sliding elements 7,toward the outside of the frame 1.

[0034] The structure according to the invention thus substantiallyreduces the physical efforts of the personnel charged with removing thebattery.

[0035] A further advantage is provided by reducing the risk of accidentsas a result of the efforts previously required for lifting thebatteries.

[0036] Another important advantage is provided by reducing the dead timefor removing and reinstalling the battery, due to the fact that alloperations are simple and greatly facilitated.

1. A battery holding frame, in particular for an electrically drivensweeping machine, of a type comprising at least one lower supportingface (4) for said battery (10), and laterally containing faces (5); saidlateral faces (5) comprising at least one mobile lateral face (5 a)rotatable between a first closed position across said lower supportingface (4) and a second operating position substantially aligned with andadjacent to said lower supporting face (4); and sliding elements (7)being provided on at least said mobile lateral face (5 a), suitable forallowing said battery (10) to slide whenever said mobile lateral face (5a) is in said operating position.
 2. A battery holding frame accordingto claim 1, wherein between said mobile lateral face (5 a) and saidlower supporting face (4) some pins (6) are provided, suitable forrotatingly engaging said faces (4, 5 a) with each other.
 3. A batteryholding frame according to claim 1, wherein said sliding elements (7)are provided on both said mobile lateral face (5 a) and on said lowersupporting face (4).
 4. A battery holding frame according to claim 1,wherein said sliding elements (7) consist of rotatable rollers (7 a). 5.A battery holding frame according to claim 1, wherein said mobilelateral face (5 a) is equipped with blocking elements (8) operable byhand and usable in said closed position.
 6. A battery holding frameaccording to claim 5, wherein said blocking elements (8) comprise ascrew (8 a) and a nut screw (8 b).
 7. A battery holding frame accordingto claim 1, wherein said lower and lateral faces (4, 5) are defined bymetallic profiles, while said frame (1) is substantially a trestle.
 8. Abattery holding frame according to claim 7, wherein said metallicprofiles of said lower supporting face (4) and of said mobile lateralface (5 a) are placed opposite the rims of said faces (4, 5 a) andwherein said metallic profiles are shaped as squares and present ashoulder flap (11 a) and a bottom flap (11 b), which are on the wholedefining pan-like seats opposite which said sliding elements (7) areemplaced.